Bow Glacier Falls

Bow Glacier Falls is a glacier-fed waterfall below Bow Glacier, reached on foot from the north shore of Bow Lake. Keep half a day for the out-and-back: it is about 10 km round trip, with regional trail guidance allowing 3–6 hours. You get more than a waterfall at the end; the approach changes from open lakeshore to forest, stairs, a gorge and a broad rocky basin. It is a good choice when you want a real hike, not a quick roadside stop.

The first stretch follows Bow Lake’s shore and is relatively level. Then the path climbs through trees on wooden stairs, before opening onto loose gravel and a glacier-carved boulder field. The total climb is modest at roughly 155 m, but the stairs and uneven upper section take care on the way down. The waterfall comes into view after the stair climb, so the lake walk is only the start of the outing.

Meltwater from Bow Glacier, part of the Wapta Icefield, drops down the falls into Bow Lake. From there it becomes the Bow River, flowing through Banff and Canmore toward Calgary. The falls mark the beginning of a river that runs far beyond this quiet corner of the parkway.

Near the upper trail, the gorge opens onto a gravel outwash plain with remnants of ancient moraines. The gravel was carried and spread by glacial meltwater; the older ridges were left as the ice shifted and retreated. It is a useful bit of context for the bare, bouldery landscape around the falls.

The cascade drops over a tall, layered rock wall into a rocky basin. From the established viewpoint, keep some cliff and boulder slope around the white water so the height reads clearly; a tight crop of the cascade loses that scale. Stick to the marked route and posted access points.

The trail begins at the Bow Lake day-use area on the Icefields Parkway, about 39 km from Lake Louise. Parking is shared with the lake and can fill in high season, so an early start helps. The Lodge at Bow Lake beside the trailhead has a small café for snacks. The usual hiking season is June through October, and snow can linger outside it; check current trail conditions before setting out.